Viral Videos Show Flooding Disasters in Hawaii: 'You're Worried About Your Vacation When Our Homes Look Like This'

Hawaii is dealing with the worst flooding in more than 20 years, and the videos coming out of the islands aren't AI, no matter how horrifying they look.

Back-to-back Kona low storms struck Hawaii in March, delivering catastrophic rainfall across every island. The first storm, which began March 10, triggered 166 flash flood warnings and pushed 96 stream gauges to surge simultaneously. Before residents could recover, a second system arrived. From March 1 to 24, Kuiki on Maui recorded 68.35 inches of rain — an almost incomprehensible total. Governor Josh Green estimated the state has suffered approximately $1 billion in damages.

Flooding in Oahu

The North Shore of Oahu bore the worst of it. First responders conducted 233 rescues during the storm. At one point, 53 of Honolulu's 60 fire stations had crews in the field simultaneously responding to 911 calls. More than 200,000 people lost power during the first storm alone. About 5,500 residents north of Honolulu were evacuated when the Wahiawa Dam faced the risk of failure due to rising water levels. The evacuation orders were lifted after water levels stabilized, but the damage was already done.

The TikTok videos circulating this week paint a picture that no official statement quite captures. In one, a resident films the waist-deep water inside her home, with all of her belongings (including children's stuffed animals and toys) floating to the surface, destroyed. Over the video, she wrote "You're worried about your vacation when our home looks like this."

@its.teetz

♬ alohaoe - Flobar

In another, people travel the streets and their homes on surfboards and kayaks, while the clips flip between the insides of homes filled with several feet of water to the city streets, engulfing vehicles.

@eyatheplaya

after weeks of heavy rain across the hawaiian islands, the kona storm hit its peak overnight… facing its worst flood in decades around 1am on March 20th, it reached the north shore. within an hour, water rose over a foot and our home was flooded to knee level. by 3am, it was waist and even chest deep in areas. streets turned into rivers. cars were submerged. power outages. flooding mixed with sewage overflow. families were awoken to the dread of losing homes, pets, food and belongings. i am blessed with the best friends & family to take me in and am beyond thankful for everyone checking in & offering homes & supplies. i was extremely lucky and able to evacuate via surfboard to my brother’s place just half a mile up the street. but so many in this community are not as lucky???? seeing homes, memories, and entire spaces destroyed overnight is heartbreaking. my heart is with everyone in our community dealing with loss right now. if you’re able to help, please consider supporting local relief efforts, donating supplies, or even just checking in on people you know on island. sending all of my love, if you or anyone you know needs help please reach out to me so I can get you connected! * link in bio to donate * please dm me if you are able to help with clean up #hawaii #flashflood #northshore #laie #fyp

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"Everyone's kind of in the street, just shoveling out mud and pulling out soaking debris and doing whatever they can to kind of start drying things out," North Shore resident Mac Burton told NBC News. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi described the second storm's intensity, saying, "What was supposed to be two to three inches of rain, it became 10 in a matter of only three hours."

Spring Break Bookings in Hawaii Down 30%

Spring break bookings are down 30% as a result of the storms, with industry experts warning of potential economic losses exceeding $500 million in the short term. The tension between tourists continuing to arrive and residents dealing with catastrophic loss is playing out in real time on social media, and the videos are making it impossible to look away.

For those looking to help, the American Red Cross is on the ground in Hawaii providing shelter and assistance. Donations can be made at redcross.org or by texting REDCROSS to 90999.